Justin Sandstrom: Addict jailed for Harris Fields State School carnage

‘Grossly affected by drugs or alcohol’: A man who smashed into a car full of children at a Logan primary school has been sentenced.

A Redlands drug addict who stole a car and crashed at high speed while “grossly affected” by drugs or alcohol into a car full of students at the height of afternoon pick-up at a Logan primary school has been jailed.

Tingalpa man Justin Michael Sandstrom, 30, a father of two, pleaded guilty in Beenleigh Magistrates Court on Thursday to nine offences, including dangerous operation of a vehicle while adversely affected, unlawful use a motor vehicle, assaulting a police officer, wilful damage, fraud, burglary and driving while disqualified by a court order.

Tingalpa man Justin Michael Sandstrom, 30. Picture: Facebook

He has been in custody since August 13 last year when parents and students at Harris Fields State School at Smith Rd, Woodridge, narrowly avoided catastrophe just after 3pm when Sandstrom ploughed a stolen sedan into the school’s kiss ‘n’ ride lane.

Sandstrom, who was “grossly affected” by drugs or alcohol when his dangerous driving occurred, had stolen the vehicle two days prior from an address at Boronia Heights.

Parents and children who had spilt out onto busy Smith Rd were sent diving for cover when Sandstrom, “excessively speeding”, drifted across oncoming traffic before veering sharply toward the kiss ‘n’ ride lane.

He slammed into a Holden Captiva containing an adult driver and several children, causing it to spin out of control and into another vehicle, which in turn collided with a fourth vehicle.

A leg injury prevented Sandstrom from departing the scene and he was detained by onlookers until police arrived.

Sandstrom’s offences, which also included a fuel drive-off (fraud) and cutting of his ankle bracelet (wilful damage), were all committed while he was on parole for a previous instance of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle

Defence lawyer Katie Peisley told the court her client began smoking cannabis when he was 12 and progressed to methamphetamine when he was 19–20.

He was “hoping to get clean” moving forward, she said.

Magistrate Gary Finger took a dim view of the offending.

“I’ve got no sympathy if you keep offending while on parole,” Mr Finger said.

“Rid yourself of drugs so you can spend some time with your children.”

Sandstrom was sentenced to 20 months’ jail and ordered to pay some $780 restitution for the damaged ankle bracelet and a further $35 for the fuel drive-off.

He was given a parole eligibility date of April 13.

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